African grey parrot

(Psittacus erithacus)

Facts

IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

Facts about this animal

The African Grey parrot reaches a total length of 30-35,cm, i.e. is the size of an average amazon parrot. There are two subspecies, the Congo African Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus), which is larger, and the Timneh African Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus timneh), which is smaller in size.

The colour of the plumage is various shades of grey, except for the tail which is striking crimson or maroon, depending on the subspecies. The iris of adults is light yellow, of juveniles brown. the beak is black or, in Timnehs, partly horn coloured. It is hooked like most parrots and is extremely powerful.

A clutch typically consists of 2 to 4 eggs, which are incubated by the female alone, while the male provides his mate with food while she sits on the eggs.Once the chicks are hatched, both parents tend to them.

African greys feed primarily on nuts and fruit, supplemented by buds and leaves.

Did you know?
that the African grey has the reputation as being the best talker of all parrot species? African grey parrots cannot only mimic speech, but mimic it in a voice that sounds quite human. They also imitate sounds with incredible accuracy, from dripping faucets to construction equipment. Parrot keepers should be careful about uttering any words they don't want the birds to learn, since they seem to have a special talent for learning just what they shouldn't!

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

Why do zoos keep this animal

Grey parrots are very popular birds, which are good ambassador species for the conservation of neotropical forests. They have an interesting anatomy and behaviour, are intelligent birds able to mimic human speech and even to associate words with their meanings, and are thus also of educational interest. Zoos may keep African greys also for animal welfare reasons as they may have to take care of confiscated birds, or former pet birds.